😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,320 in Barcelona versus $629 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,426 in Barcelona versus $1,053 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,532 in Barcelona versus $1,476 in Carthage.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 269% more expensive than in Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 74% above, Carthage is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66€15.46
$5.05TND 14.77
249.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€61.0
$25.25TND 73.9
175.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.16€12.40
$5.06TND 14.80
179.84%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.07TND 3.14
161.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.46
$0.71TND 2.09
295.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.81
$0.26TND 0.76
692.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.03
$1.72TND 5.04
167.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.11
$1.97TND 5.77
138.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$0.47TND 1.36
161.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.78
$0.20TND 0.57
915.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.70TND 4.99
16.47%
Eggs
$3.49€3.05
$1.64TND 4.80
112.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.33€16.05
$10.64TND 31.14
72.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.83€8.61
$6.03TND 17.66
63.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.13€16.75
$14.54TND 42.54
31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.39
$2.01TND 5.89
35.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.09
$3.40TND 9.95
-30.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.12TND 3.29
85.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.41
$0.73TND 2.14
276.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$0.75TND 2.19
161.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.65TND 1.90
175.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.29
$0.43TND 1.26
244.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.80
$0.29TND 0.83
213.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.25
$3.43TND 10.03
107.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.90
$6.88TND 20.14
14.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.35TND 3.94
2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39€2.09
$1.26TND 3.68
89.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.01€2.64
$0.33TND 0.95
812.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.71
$7.39TND 21.61
297.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.36€3.82
$0.32TND 0.94
1262.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.86
$0.33TND 0.97
545.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.60€25.93
$3.41TND 9.96
768.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.60
$0.82TND 2.40
121.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.2K
$41.4KTND 121.0K
-8.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€28.4K
$36.0KTND 105.3K
-10.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€166
$45.15TND 132
318.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.52
$9.42TND 27.56
136.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.16€32.55
$18.30TND 53.6
103.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.8
$37.88TND 111
53.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.66€18.09
$13.32TND 38.97
55.11%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87€9.52
$5.17TND 15.11
110.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706€618
$109TND 319
547.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K€13.0K
$3,309TND 9,683
349.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.4€78.3
$46.19TND 135
93.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.60€32.06
$60.2TND 176
-39.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€91.1
$97.3TND 285
6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€105
$65.7TND 192
81.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,579€1,383
$168TND 491
841.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238€1,084
$101TND 296
1123.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,712€2,375
$304TND 890
791.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039€1,786
$239TND 698
754.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,527€6,592
$957TND 2,800
686.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,239€4,588
$626TND 1,831
737.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,364€2,070
$270TND 789
777.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10.96
-69.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Carthage: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,579 in Barcelona and $168 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 777% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Barcelona vs $25.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $196 per month, with Carthage cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Carthage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Carthage?
Barcelona and Carthage differ by about 269% in total monthly costs ($2,320 vs $629 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Carthage?
Average pay runs 777% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,579 in Barcelona versus $168 in Carthage. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Carthage?
Childcare runs $706 in Barcelona versus $109 in Carthage. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $629 in Carthage versus $2,320 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Carthage?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Carthage safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Carthage are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Carthage?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 269% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.